Fastener



Oct. '9, 1945. w. L. sF-ARKS 2,386,123

FASTENER Filed Deo. 9. 194sA ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES :PATENT oFFicE FASTENER William L. Sparks, Hartsdale, N. Y.

Application December 9, 1943, Serial No. 513,557

9 Claims.

This invention relates to fasteners adapted for use in securing letters and other papers for filing and particularly to fasteners having two spaced tongues which pass through the papers to be secured and through similarly spaced perforations in a retainer or keeper over which the tongues are bent.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective fastener embodying a keeper with a locking device which will securely hold the tongues of the fastener and permit release thereof when the le is to be opened.

Othervobjects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. f1 is a sectional view of a file illustrating the application of the improved fastener thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the keeper with the locking means separated therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the keeper showing the locking means partially withdrawn;

Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a, section on an enlarged scale on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the base of the fastener having spaced tongues E adapted to be bent as indicated and to pass through the file of papers 1. The ends of the tongues project through perforations 8 near the ends of the keeper 9 which rests upon the uppermost paper of the file.

Ilhe keeper 9 consist of a strip of metal having two longitudinal ribs I9 formed on the face or upper surface thereof by pressing or otherwise forcing up the body of the strip. The ribs stiifen the keeper to prevent bending thereof.

Near the right hand end of the keeper, as viewed in the drawing, between the perforation 8 and that end of the keeper, the metal is cut and forced upwardly from the plane of the keeper to provide a saddle II.

The locking device comprises an elongated member I3 having a rib I4 formed longitudinally thereof by pressing or otherwise forcing up the body of the metal to afford stiffness. At one end, the member I3 is provided with a clip I5, the edges I6 of which are bent downwardly and inwardly to embrace the edges of thekeeper 9. The opposite end of the member I3 is preferably provided with a rounded end I'I which is adapted to pass under the saddle II. Preferably the saddle II is struck up slightly at its central portion I2 to accommodate the rib Ill, thus affording a guide to maintain the member I3 in proper assembled relation with the keeper 9.

The clip I5 may be provided with depressions I8 formed by punching the metal slightly to cooperate with similar depressions I9 at the end of the keeper 9. Similarly the end I1 may be formed with a depression 20 to cooperate with a similar depression 2I on the keeper 9.' These depressions by engagement with each other tend to hold the member I3 in locking position but permit movement thereof under slight pressure. If desired the friction between the clip I5 and the keeper may be utilized to hold the member I3 in locking position.

In using the device, the member I3 is withdrawn to the right, viewing Fig. 3, until the clip `I5 engages the saddle II. The tongues 6 may then be threaded through the perforations 8 and bent over the face of the keeper as indicated in Fig. 3. When the tongues 6 have been bent, the member I3 is moved to the left viewing Fig. 3 until the depressions I8 engage the depressions I9, thus locking the fastener with the tongues 6 securely held against release. To release the fastener it is merely necessary to slide the member I3to the right until the tongues 6 are again free. The keeper may then be removed. W'hen it is replaced it is again locked in the same manner. The member I3 can be moved in either direction by slight pressure of the thumb or finger.

Various changes may be made in the details of the apparatus without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A keeper for le fasteners having perforations adjacent its opposite ends,v an elongated member having means at one end extending around the side edges of the keeper and forming a sliding connection therewith, and means formed from the body of the keeper lbetween one of theA perforations and the adjacent end of the keeper in guiding engagement with the elongated member, said last-mentioned means restraining the elongated member against lateral movement While permitting said member to move longitudinally of the keeper.

2. A keeper for le fasteners having perforations adjacent its opposite ends, an elongated member having means at one end extending around the side edges of the keeper and forming a sliding connection therewith, and a saddle struck from the body of the keeper adjacent one end and slidably engaging the edges of the elongated member to restrain it against lateral movement while permitting it to move longitudinally of the keeper.

3. A keeper for le fasteners having perforations adjacent its opposite ends, an elongated member having a longitudinally-extending stiifening rib and means at one end extending around the side edges of the keeper and forming a sliding connection therewith, and a saddle struck from the body of the keeper adjacent one end, said saddle having a portion conforming to the shape of the longitudinally-extending stiifening rib of the elongated member and engaging -it and restraining the elongated member against lateral movement while permitting it to move longitudinally of the keeper.

4. A keeper for file fasteners` having perforation's adjacent itsV (appositeY ends', an elongated member having means at one end at least in part embraing the side edges of the' keeper and forniing a sliding connection therewith, and a saddle struck from the bodi-7 of the keeper between one of the perforations and th'adjacent end f'the keeper, the elongated member extendingbeneath said saddle, and the saddle having a portieri to engage the longitudinally-extending member and t restrain it against lateral movement while permitting it to move longitudinally'of 'the keeper.

5. A keeper for le fastenershaving perforations adjacent its'op'posite'ends, an elongated member havingmeans at one end at least in part embracing the side edges 'of the keeper and form-"- ing a sliding connectibn therewith, the keeper having a saddle formed from 'thevbody thereof between one of the perforations' and the adjaeent end fof the keeper, the' elongatedineinberextending beneath 'said Ysad'dle'and the's'addle' being adapted tobe engaged byv the edge-"embracing means of the elongated memberandthereby a'ct as a stop to' limit longitudinal movement ofthe eiongatedmemb'er relative to the keeper in one direction, said saddle 'also restraining the longi-A tudinal member Vagainst lateral movement while permitting said member to move longitudinally or the keeper. g i

6; In binding means forl papers 'orytneiikejof the type oom'prisinga base member Ahaving prongs projecting substantially normally therefrom'and adapted to extend'throughsheets'ofpaper and to be bent towards one another over thepapers and a keeper'for the bent-over prongs; the im= provement which comprises a keeper having perioratio'ns adjacent its opposite ends and an elongated member having" meansat one'endto at leastA in part embrace the edges of the keeper and form a sliding connection therewith, and retaining means between one of the perforations and adjacent one end of the keeper, the elongated member extending through said retaining means and being movable longitudinally of the keeper to locking and releasing positions.

7. In binding means for papers or the like of the type comprising a base member having prongs projecting substantially normally therefrom and adapted to extend through sheets of paper and to be bent towards one another over the papers and a keeper for the bentLover prongs: the improvement which comprises a keeper having perforations adjacent its opposite ends and an elongated-member having means at one end extending around the side edges of the keeper `and forming a sliding connection therewith, and retaining means formed from the body of the keeper between one of the perforations and the adjacent end of the keeper, the elongated member extending through said retaining means and beingmovable longitudinally of the keeper to locking and releasing positions.

8. In binding means for papers or the like of the type comprising a base member having prongs projecting substantially normally therefrom and adapted to extend through sheets of paper 'and to be bent towards one another over the papers and a keeper for the bentover prongs: the iinprovement which comprises a keeper'having per`= vforations adjacent its opposite ends, an elongated member having a longitudinallyeextending stiffj- 'ening rib and means at one end extending around and embracing the side edges of the keeper and forming asliding connection therewith, and retaining means on'the keeper between one'of the perforations'and the adjacent end of the keeper in guiding engagement with the elongated member, the elongated member Aextending through said retainingv means and being movable longitudinally of the keeper to locking and releasing positions. 4

9. In binding means for papers or the like of the type comprising abase member having prongs projecting substantially normally therefrom and adapted to extend through sheets of paper and to be bent towards one another over the papers and a keeper for the bent-'over prongs; the improvement which comprises a keeper-'having per= forations adjacent its opposite ends and longitudinally-extending stiifening ribsfandai elon^ gated member-slidably supported `on and movable longitudinally of the keeper to locking and re: leasing positions, the elongated membernormally lying between the longitudinally-extending ribs ofthe keeper and having a wider clip portion at 'one end extending around and embracing the side edges of the keeper and forming a's'lidng connection therewith. Y

l Y Y WILLIAM Isf-SPARKS; 

